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Karim Benzema Could Lift Arsenal

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Karim Benzema may be the final cornerstone needed for Arsenal to yield the best out of their attacking qualities next season.

Image: Eurosport

Arsenal have had a relatively quiet transfer window so far. While Petr Cech has been the only arrival at The Emirates this summer—transfer business has been lackadaisical and inoperative from Arsene Wenger's beloved Gunners.

While more transfer business has been adjudged 'unnecessary' by Arsene Wenger - with the Arsenal boss already revealing he is more focused on developing Arsenal's next generation rather than spending lavishly in the transfer market, Arsenal can however intensify in both rudimentary and advanced areas of the squad—if next season will produce the first elongated Gunners title assail since the illustrious Invincibles in 2003/04.
Theo Walcott has operated on the flank for most of his Arsenal career, however, the Arsenal player has expressed his desire to play as a centre-forward, and Arsene Wenger is clearly keen to publicly talk up his potential and budding in the illustrious role, previously occupied by Arsenal immortal Thierry Henry:

It's not too late for him. I think his position will be as a striker. I have worked with him in both situations, as a striker and as a wide player. The quality of his runs is so fantastic with the pace he has, and he is a good finisher now. When he was younger, he rushed in front of goal but has improved. He can be transformed. He is naturally gifted and can play in this position. Oliver Giroud has different qualities: he can head a ball and he plays with his back to goal. Theo is a runner, who is capable of going in behind the defense. (Quotes obtained by The Mirror)

Acknowledging Walcott's rapid pace and exhilarating movement in-and-around the 18-yard box, plenty of Arsenal supporters believe that the 26-year-old cannot usher The Gunners to Premier League glory. They feel the exact same way about Oliver Giroud. So Arsenal have the funds, stature, and squad to lure effectively any striker in European football to The Emirates—and Karim Benzema should be that season-altering acquisition.The 27-year-old's cryptic Instagram post has dropped the biggest hint yet that he could be off to Arsenal, posting a photo of himself on what appears to be a private jet alongside the caption, "Leave the past in the past."

Benzema is perfect for The Gunners. Arsenal have genuinely not rivaled for the title in over an errant decade, and Karim Benzema can end that sustained agony. The Real Madrid striker fits the bill perfectly.Superior Stats
Fellow French striker and perhaps future Arsenal colleague Oliver Giroud impressed last season with 14 league goals in 27 games. The 28-year-old ranked fourth in the Premier League for goals per game, behind just Sergio Aguero (0.79), Diego Costa (0.77) and Harry Kane (0.62) with an impressive rate of 0.52.
In contrast, Benzema scored 15 league goals in 29 appearances for Real Madrid last season, an exact equivalent of Giroud's goal-per-game rate of 0.52. However, Benzema was more clinical than his French compatriot. The 27-year-old's strike rate was superior (22 per cent to 20 per cent), as was his shot accuracy (53 per cent to 50 per cent).

Image: Standard.co.uk

Benzema also excelled creatively last campaign. With three times as many assists (10 to 3), more chances created per game (1.5 to 1) and also led his countryman for pass completion (79 per cent to 68 per cent). The stats underlining the benefits and improvement that Benzema would bring to Arsenal's renowned style of play.
The final stats also exemplify that Benzema is definitely not another one-trick-pony. The Real Madrid man successfully completed 57 per cent of his take-ons in La Liga last season to just 39 per cent from Giroud. Benzema provides more than Giroud in effectively every department - which typifies why The Gunners desperately need the 27-year-old at their disposal next campaign. Physical and aerial presence Perhaps Theo Walcott is destined for a preferred central position, but Benzema's treacherous physical and aerial presence may lure Wenger to opt for the French international. Oliver Giroud has that build and athleticism and poses an eccentric aerial threat like his French colleague, perfectly illustrated in the 4-1 victory over a ragged Newcastle United back in December, in which he scored a wonderful brace. The first goal typified Giroud's dangerous aerial threat and physical presence—pouncing on The Magpies' somnolent defense to clinically head it past hapless Newcastle goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.
But Benzema has also encapsulated his physical and aerial asset in the past. With Real Madrid 1-0 up against Liverpool in the Champions League back in October, Karim Benzema doubled the lead after instinctively clobbering a header past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

Image: AP

While Arsene Wenger doesn't necessarily want to uncover a new striker, a proven goalscorer such as Karim Benzema is needed if The Gunners are to muster their first elongated title assail in the last decade. Back in May - in the first-half against Manchester United - Arsenal failed to muster a shot on goal for the very first time since November 2004 vs. Liverpool.
And it would be the clearest and most transparent indication yet that Arsene Wenger needed to invest in a prolific goalscorer in the summer transfer window.
Arsenal possess that array of attacking talent in Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, and Aaron Ramsey - including potent squad depth in that influential district of players. Oliver Giroud does not provide that dynamism The Gunners have sorely missed since Thierry Henry departed for Barcelona in 2007. Arsenal desperately need somebody like Karim Benzema - his physical threat, velocity, ruthlessness, and dynamism make him the missing piece of the jigsaw that The Gunners and Arsene Wenger have been aching for ever since Henry left. Conclusion
One of the best strikers in European football, the industrious Karim Benzema values at approximately £35 million, according to Real Madrid, so the deal could represent the vast majority of Arsenal's budget. The French international is a powerful, incisive, purposeful striker, with an enviable eye for goal—as exemplified by his previous years playing for Los Blancos. Karim Benzema would be a huge coup for The Gunners, and could unlock the puzzle that is Arsenal.